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MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder

September 21st, 2012 by Karen 26 Comments

mac unsung heroes careblends pressed powder

Every time I hear the word, “Careblends,” it reminds me of something else…

It’s hard to explain, really, because that something is a little strange. I can’t quite call it a person, but he/she was very caring and nice.

They had a TV show that was quite popular when I was a kid. Can’t seem to recall the name of the show right now, but I remember caring for it a great deal…

LOL!

I can’t believe I haven’t given MAC Careblends Pressed Powders the Unsung Heroes treatment before. I realized this morning that I’ve hit the pan not once, but twice on a Careblends before, and considering how often I change products, that says something about how much I love this stuff.

I know I’ve raved about them before. They come in eight shades and live in MAC’s permanent line, although they occasionally make appearances as limited edition colors in collections like the Surfbaby launch.

So what exactly is a Careblends Pressed Powder? Is it a cuddly technicolor bear with an identifying icon on its tum?

No, no, it’s not. 🙂 It’s a $24 sheer-to-medium coverage tinted pressed powder with a finish a hint glossier than matte. Worn on either on bare skin or atop foundation, the Careblends look naturally flawless to me, like real skin, and I can’t remember seeing one ever look chalky.

My combination dry/oily skin also loves the way they feel — lightweight, smooth, almost like nothing at all — and they love the camera, too. They photograph really well, especially combined with MAC Face and Body, my current foundation crush.

Who might want to give them a try? Guys and girls with dry or combination skin types who like more natural looks might want to give ’em a try. Shoot, even if you have hyperactive sebaceous glands, I think they’re still worth a try. You just might want to mix them with an oil absorbing powder to help the keep shine at bay. Try a 50/50 blend of Careblends and Blot. That’s what I do when my t-zone resembles an oil slick.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!


The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection

  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Fulfilled Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Phloof Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Crème in Your Coffee Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Face and Body Foundation
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
  • MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
  • MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass

MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder / Originally published September 21st, 2012

There are 26 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Face, MAC Makeup, Unsung Heroes

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Comments

  1. Jennifer L says

    September 21st, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Sounds like a good product for me.. I don’t like to wear foundation outside of special occasions… but I love a naturally flawless look 😉

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 21st, 2012 at 11:10 am

      Hi Jennifer,

      Me too. This powder is great for that type of look! You might want to try it on bare skin…

      Reply
  2. CrystalCandy says

    September 21st, 2012 at 10:54 am

    Are you talking about the Calinours? lol

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 21st, 2012 at 11:11 am

      Okay, so I had to totally look that up. 🙂 Here in the US we call them Care Bears! I had one when I was a kid. I think it was the one with the rainbow on its belly.

      Reply
      • CrystalCandy says

        September 21st, 2012 at 2:36 pm

        Oh I didn’t know the name in the US! Lucky, I wish I had one, the pink one. lol

        Reply
  3. Ruchita says

    September 21st, 2012 at 11:16 am

    I love MAC blot, so I will definitely have to try Careblends. That pic of Tabs and his fluffy belly just kills me!

    Speaking of kitties, we had a bit of a scare last night when Ella went missing for about an hour. I was in and out of the house b/c I was grilling and she must have slipped out. I didn’t notice right away that she was gone and when I went out to check she wasn’t in the back yard.

    It was dark, so we went out with flashlights. We searched around the neighborhood, but couldn’t find her anywhere. We came back home and I decided to drive around and look for her. Then a few minutes after we got back, she showed up at the patio door like nothing happened.

    In my already anxious state, combined with PMS, I turned into a sobbing mess. It was such a relief to have her back.

    Anyway, will be much more careful about open doors in the future!

    Have a great weekend!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 21st, 2012 at 12:09 pm

      Hi Ruchita,

      I’m glad that you guys found Ella and that she’s safe and sound. I bet when she got back home she was like, “What’s the big deal?” Cats are so funny like that! I wonder where she went and what she did…maybe it was the weekly neighborhood kitty diva meeting?

      Reply
      • Ruchita says

        September 21st, 2012 at 2:54 pm

        I know! I’m so curious as to where she went. She didn’t say much when she got home, other than hissing at the other cats. 🙂 I’m glad she recognized where home is b/c she’s not as street smart as Mingy.

        Reply
  4. Nina says

    September 21st, 2012 at 11:56 am

    I do love my Careblends!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 21st, 2012 at 12:09 pm

      Hi Nina,

      Me too! The limited edition ones from Surfbaby are still some of my fave powders from MAC. 🙂

      Happy FRIDAY!!!

      Reply
      • Nina says

        September 24th, 2012 at 6:04 am

        It is MONDAY again! Kinda sad but its aight. We took a small trip out of town the past weekend to visit the inlaws. 🙂

        I <3 my Surf Baby Careblends! Theyre both sooo pretty!

        Reply
  5. Mojito says

    September 21st, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Okay, so you would rather recommend the Blotting one for oily skin and Careblend for normal/dry? Any other differences between the two?

    Have a nice weekend 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 21st, 2012 at 12:11 pm

      Hi Mojito,

      Blot is colorless, so it doesn’t even the skin out so much — it’s more of a straight up setting powder to reduce shine. I’ve heard from some people that it can have a white cast in flash photography, but I’ve never had any issue with it. Also, Blot tends to look more formal because it’s so matte.

      Let me know if you have any other questions!

      Reply
  6. Crystal says

    September 21st, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    I’ve never tried a Careblend Powder. I gotta check into that. Tabs looks like he’s waitin for his ride to the club….HA!
    Crystal recently posted … Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss- Pink Luster

    Reply
  7. Monika says

    September 21st, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    Lol I thought of the Care Bears when you first mentioned this powder awhile ago. I’ve been meaning to try this because I originally wanted the prep prime transparent powder, but even though it’s supposed to not create a white cast, I’m always wary that it will on my darker skintone (I know you said it doesn’t in your initial review of it). Either way, my skin is combination-dry too, and I think the extra hit of moisture this powder has would be a better fit for me anyway.

    What shade do you use, Karen? I’m using the same Face and Body shade as you right now (C5), and I’d like to know what you use as a reference point. I’m definitely switching out my prep and prime pressed for careblends. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Monika says

    September 21st, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    Oh, I also wanted to let you know that I bit the bullet and finally bought a whole bunch of the MAC eyeshadows that you’ve featured in your Unsung Heroes posts. They’re all fantastic so far, and I’m so excited to play around with them since you’ve got so many flexible neutrals on that list. I also added a couple of my own picks. Do you like Fig 1. and Plumage? I just got those, and they’re awesome too!

    Reply
  9. Becca says

    September 21st, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    I’m going today and will try out this powder – I love MAC powder product in general, so I think I will like this. Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Nadia says

    September 21st, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    LOVE this powder! It’s the only powder that I can use on my dry skin.
    Have a nice week-end Karen 🙂

    Reply
  11. Chelsea says

    September 21st, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    Glad I’m not the only one who thinks of Care Bears when you mention this product! Also loving the picture of Tabs! Very regal.

    Reply
  12. christine says

    September 22nd, 2012 at 3:31 am

    How does this compare to the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural?

    Reply
  13. Jasmine says

    September 22nd, 2012 at 6:44 am

    Karen, which color do you use in care blend?

    Reply
  14. Melba says

    September 22nd, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    In all the years (close to 5 years), I’ve been secretly reading your blog. I just needed to say that MAC Face and Body is looking amazing on you. By far, my favorite foundation you’ve used. I recently purchased it and have been trying it out by pressing it on with the MAC 191. Not sure if I love it on me just yet. But you’re giving me hope! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Bibi says

    September 23rd, 2012 at 6:41 am

    You are a legende!.. No not a legend,a legende ( inset fake French accent here) I’ve been looking for a powder for my tanned olive ( soon to become winter beige skin) and everything out there is frankly crap!.. I use MAC for about 75% of my makeup and didn’t think to try the powder..doh! Will go check this out ASAP
    Thank you!
    P.S my favourite carebear was Tenderheart :-))))

    Reply
  16. Savannah says

    September 28th, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    I have a question 🙂 alright, so I’m almost done my second compact of Mac blot powder and I find it doesn’t work as well as it used to, and everytime I re-touch during the day I feel it’s taking away my foundation ( I pat, not wipe btw) and then my skin just looks terrible. My skin is fairly oily, it’s not terrible but it’s not great either. I feel with these, my complexion would look better after a touch up. Also, My mum is 50 soon, and she wants to get some Make up bits. Would this be reccomended as a setting powder for mature skin?

    Reply
  17. Jasmine says

    February 2nd, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    Karn which color do you use in the careblend?

    Reply
  18. Gigi says

    March 26th, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    Hey Karen, I’m also an NC42.
    Which color do you use in careblend?

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my three-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my kitty supermodel cat (Tabs).

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